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Braxton Miller: Position Change Keeps NFL Draft Stock Alive

By Phil Naegely

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The 2015 NFL season hasn’t even begun yet, but many are already looking ahead to the 2016 NFL Draft. Late Thursday night, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller told SI.com’s Pete Thamel he is switching from quarterback to wide receiver and this decision has been in the works for some time and isn’t some impromptu move.

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As Miller told Thamel, switching to wide receiver was a secret and not his first choice, but it has become the best move as he continues to recover from his shoulder surgery.

“For the most part, it’s going to be H-Back and punt return,” Miller said in the phone interview. “It’s a long process to get back totally to throwing and throwing every day. This is the smarter thing for right now, God blessed me with a lot of talent and different opportunities. I’m going to have fun with that and still score a lot of touchdowns and help the team out and be dominant at that.”

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This decision to switch to wide receiver not only makes Ohio State more of a threat during the 2015 season, but also keeps Miller’s NFL future alive. If he stayed at quarterback, his recovery would take longer due to importance of the shoulder during the throwing motion and he wasn’t guaranteed to be the starting quarterback. It’s worth remembering that the third-string quarterback helped the Buckeyes win the inaugural College Football Playoff over Alabama.

Jan 24, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) at the national championship celebration at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

At wide receiver, his athleticism and pure skill will help Ohio State have yet another passing threat near and far. He’s been catching passes from his fellow teammates since May according to Miller. By seeing time on the field, he has kept his NFL Draft stock alive. It’s unknown where he could land come 2016, but the sky is the limit and the chance is there for Miller to seize during the 2015 season. The opportunity to help out as a running back will allow him to show of his rushing ability and his speed as well.

He will have to work hard for sure, but it appears he won’t be fighting for a starting spot as a receiver as he would have as a quarterback. Likewise, finding success on special teams is something NFL team scouts will quickly notice and is something teams are always looking to enhance through the draft.

All in all, Miller is making the best choice not only for his last year at Ohio State. If for some reason Ohio State has to deal with injuries at quarterback like last year, Miller can return to that position after fulling recovering from his injury. 2015 is Miller’s year to succeed wherever he plays on the field. His versatility is another trait that can help him find himself somewhere on the mock drafts around the 2016 NFL Draft and hear is name at the to be decided 2016 NFL Draft location.

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